Declan Rice created a few heart flutters among Hammers fans with his remarks about Manchester United following the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

He spoke of it being a fantastic stadium and how much he always enjoyed playing there – not comments designed to go down well with the fans or club.

Mind you no doubt Rio Ferdinand would have enjoyed his words given he has encouraged  the Hammers skipper to join the club in the past.

But a genuine Hammers favourite – Joe Cole – made his feelings on a possible move to the club very clear.

We reported this morning that the Old Trafford club fear a battle of mega millions with Manchester City should they decide to bid for Dec in the summer.

But Joe has made it clear that he reckons such a move would be bad news for our top man and captain – and one that he really shouldn’t consider.

The former Chelsea star told BT Sport on Saturday, via the Mirror: “I wouldn’t go if I was Declan Rice, no. I think you run the risk of going there and still not winning trophies.

“I think if Man City were on the table, you’d go there because in recent years it guarantees you trophies and I think Declan would want that.

“But for me, there’s no reason for him to not stay at West Ham if the progress is still going in that pattern, but that’s for him and the owners.”

Joe’s right! They are not the club they oncce were and we reckon he’d be srerugggling to hold a regular place at Manchester City where rotation is always the name of the game.

David Moyes needs to bring big names into this club, win the Europa League and thuis enter the Champions League.

Now that would be real success and almost certainly persuade the fella another two or three years at West Ham may be his perfect decision.